Pumpkin Rabbits, Stagcamels and Other Strange "Monsters" of the New World in Early Modern Central Europe

Abstract

The discovery of the New World revealed to Europeans an unsuspectedly rich and "wondrous" natural realm. Paradise for some, the devil for others.

For all of them "naked", i.e. new, previously unknown, lacking (Latin) names and references to ancient authorities. It became a challenge for those who tried to understand it, to describe it, to take possession of it.

Keywords

• monstrum
• curia
• New World
• armadillo